The Fluvial Dynamics and Hydrology Research Group (DFH) is conducting snow monitoring in Sierra Nevada (Spain) since 2004. One of the main control points is the Refugio Poqueira, where we deployed and maintain a complete and automated scientific meteorological station. Precipitation, temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, solar radiation, longwave radiation and pressure are measured. This station is fitted into the Guadalfeo Project Network and integrated into CLIMA database of the Environmental Information Network of Andalucía.

Cámara CC640 y zona monitorizada /CC640 camera and monitored area

Secuencia de imágenes CC640 de seguimiento de la nieve /Sequence of CC640 shots for snowcover monitoring

Figures with the temperature, precipitation, wind speed and wind rose (prevailing wind directions combined with velocities) measured at Refugio Poqueira Meteorological Station during the last days.
This graphs are automatically updated from the data periodically collected by the DFH Research Group.

In 2011, DFH research group installed a new Mobotix camera, equipped with two lenses, for the monitoring of snow at a hillslope scale. Besides, this IP camera was allowed to work as a webcam. You can see real time image under this words, with a 1-minute update. The camera is facing Northwest, and in the image you can see Veleta Peak (3395 m). In this image on the left you can see the camera installed on the wall of the Refugio Poqueira.

The Guadalfeo Project was a scientific study whose main objective was to advance in the scientific knowledge
of the hydrological processes taking place in the Guadalfeo River Basin at Sierra Nevada Mountains. As part
of the Project, the meteorological station of Refugio Poqueira was installed in November 2004 at 2500 m.a.s.l.
Since then and up to now, 5-minutes data have been consistently recorded concerning precipitation, temperature,
relative humidity, solar radiation, wind speed and direction, and downward longwave radiation. The precipitation
reaches in this site a measured mean value of 750 mm/year, 60% of it as snow. The variability between years is
outstanding, ranging from 467 mm/year to 1250 mm/year and from 40% to 70% of snow. The mean temperature
is 6.4 ºC, falling to 1.4ºC during the winter months. The mean relative humidity of 50% is maintained during the
winter as well. The collected data highlight some unique characteristics of high mountain regions in Mediterranean
environments, where the snow is subjected to very a special combination of temperature, humidity and radiation.
Thanks to this knowledge, we were able to develop, among other applications, a physically based snowmelt model
that detected high rates of evaporation from the snow.